Lucknow Super Giants’ win over Chennai Super Kings came with plenty of turning points, but one moment stood out beyond the wickets: left-arm pacer Akash Singh’s distinctive celebration. After dismissing each of three batters in the seven-wicket triumph, the 24-year-old pulled a crumpled slip of paper from his pocket and flashed it as he celebrated. The message, written in bold confidence, read: “Akki on fire — Akash knows how to take wickets in T20 cricket.” Akash later explained that the gesture is meant to keep him mentally switched on, serving both as motivation and as a reminder to impose his intent on opposing batters.
Akash, who began his IPL journey with Rajasthan Royals, was part of Chennai Super Kings’ title-winning group in 2023 before his move to Lucknow Super Giants. On Friday, he produced his most productive IPL spell yet, finishing with figures of 3 for 26 as LSG controlled the contest and ultimately chased down the target to secure the win.
When asked about the exact wording on the paper, Akash said it reflects the mindset he is carrying on that particular day. “Akki knows how to take wickets in T20 cricket,” he remarked, adding that the note acts as a motivational anchor and helps him stay focused on dominating batters while delivering stronger performances for the team. He also pointed out that motivation is personal and not always constant. “Different things motivate different people. Some days I show the paper, some days I don’t, but it reflects my mindset on that particular day,” he said. “When you carry a piece of paper with something written on it, you manifest things, and the most important part is when those manifestations actually materialise,” he added.
Hailing from Bharatpur in Rajasthan, Akash credited the support structure at Lucknow for a major part of his development over the past two years. He said the backing from the franchise’s coaching staff has been crucial even when he is not part of the playing XI. “I’ve been with LSG for two years and the most important thing has been the backing from the coaches, even when I’m not in the playing XI. This year we have Bharat Arun sir, last year Zaheer sir was there… Tom Moody,” he noted. For Akash, it is the day-to-day guidance—how the team prepares, plans sessions, and keeps players ready for their moments—that makes the difference when there are 25 members in the squad.
He also highlighted the role of captaincy and senior leadership in building confidence. “When you are not playing, you naturally seek backing and every player wants to make the most of the opportunities he gets,” Akash said. “The support from the captain also matters a lot and with Rishabh bhaiya backing you, the confidence grows and you are able to perform better,” he added, referring to Rishabh Pant. Akash further revealed that Pant had specifically urged him to trust his strengths ahead of the match against CSK.
According to Akash, Pant told him that the new ball is where his impact begins and that he should be prepared to swing it both ways. Akash said he took that advice seriously, looking to make the most of his skill set. “He told me that the new ball is my strength and that I can swing it both ways. So I just tried to make the best use of my skills. The wicket also had good bounce, so I focused on using the bouncer effectively,” he said.
Discussing how he managed to have such an impact against CSK, Akash pointed to his experience in the IPL since 2020, including his time with Chennai. He said being familiar with the league and sharing dressing rooms with players helps him understand their patterns—strengths, weaknesses, and how they typically respond under pressure. “Obviously, when you play in the IPL and have shared the dressing room with some players, you understand their strengths and weaknesses,” Akash explained. “My focus was first to back my own strengths, then exploit their weaknesses and also make the best use of what the wicket was offering,” he added.
Akash also suggested that the match arrived at a time when he felt an opportunity could be on the horizon. Over the last couple of games, he said he had repeatedly been told to “be ready,” even though he admitted he was unfortunate not to get a chance earlier. “Two days before the match, during practice, I was told to be ready,” he said.
Finally, he clarified that he wasn’t carrying the paper with any plan in mind for the specific game. Instead, he described it as something he does regularly—writing down ideas that could sharpen his cricket. “Whenever I’m alone or about to sleep, any thought that comes to my mind which can help my cricket, I write it down. The other night I got this thought and jotted it down on paper,” Akash said.
